Method of producing cerium tellurite



United Eitates Patent Ofilice 3,053,619 Patented Sept. 11, 19623,053,619 METHOD OF PRODUCING CERIUM TELLURlTE Gerhard Bayer, Hinteregg,Zurich, Switzerland, asslgnor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company, acorporation of Ohio No Drawing. Original application Nov. 30, 1960, Ser-No. 72,568. Divided and this application Dec. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 168,293

3 Claims. (Cl. 23-50) This invention relates to a new cerium telluri-te,and to a method for its preparation.

This application is a division of cop-ending application Serial Number72,568, filed November 30, 1960.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new compound, acerium tellurite.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for theproduction of this new compound in crystalline form. Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a new yellow ceramic color orpigment. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from astudy of the accompanying disclosure.

According to the present invention, I have now discovered a newcrystalline tellurite of the formula:

This compound has a striking and intense yellow color.

According to the invention, the new compound can be prepared by mixingTeO with Ce in the ratio of 3 mols of the tellurium oxide to 1 mol ofthe cerium oxide, and carrying out a solid-state reaction. The ratio ofthe oxides should be substantially as stated, but higher or lower ratioscan be employed; however, when so employed the tellun'te compound isdiluted with Ce0 or Te0 as shown by X-ray powder diffraction data. Inpreparing the compounds, the reactants are intimately admixed in finelydivided powder form; preferably the powders are 30 microns or smaller.The intimately admixed powders are compacted into a cohesive mass, andthereafter heat treated in a non-reducing, usually an oxidizing,atmosphere (e.g., air). Temperatures of firing are from about 600 toabout 700 C., usually not above 650 C. The solid state reaction takesplace during the firing, after which the compound is cooled to roomtemperature. Firing time is generally from 2 to 30 hours, usually 5 to20 hours.

The compound CeTe O was prepared in the manner just described, whereinthe firing temperature was held within the range from 600-650 C. for 20hours in an air atmosphere. The cerium tellun'te had an intense yellowcolor. It was insoluble in water and dilute hydrochloric acid butsoluble in strongly alkaline solutions. It was found to be stable up toa temperature of about 750 C., but above this temperature atterprolonged heating the tellurium begins to volatilize as TeO The X-raypowder difliraction data are given in Table I. The lines for CeO and Te0were absent, indicating the substantial absence of the starting materialreactants.

2 d(A.U.): m, 3.11 100.0

The new yellow crystalline compound finds particular application becauseof its very desirable yellow color. It can be used in ceramic glazw,enamel-s, paints and dyes. The composition in powdered form can beincorporated as a powder in amounts from, for instance, 0.5 to 10% oreven higher as coloring fillers in plastics, such as polyethylene orpolystyrene.

As a specific example of :a paint formulation incorporating the presentcolors, the following illustrates this use for the color:

Ingredient libs. CeTe O 300 Zinc oxide 25 Long-oil soya alkyd resinnonvolatile) 480 Mineral spirits 181 Cobalt naphthenate (6% Co) 3 Leadnaphthenate (24% Pb) 3 Calcium naphthenate (4% Ca) 2 Total 994 As willbe evident to those skilled in the art, various modifications of thisinvention can be made or followed in the light of the foregoingdisclosure and discussion without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe disclosure or from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making the compound CeTe O by solid-state reaction whichcomprises intimately admixing powders of Ce0 and TeO compacting theresulting admixture into a cohesive mass, and heating said mass at atemperature of from at least about 600 C. up to the temperature at whichsaid compound begins to decompose at an undesirable rate.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature is from 600 to700 C.

3. A method of claim 2, wherein the molar ratio of TeO to CeO issubstantially 3: 1.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A METHOD OF MAKING THE COMPOUNDCETE3O8 BY SOLID-STATE REACTION WHICHINTIMATELY ADMIXING POWDERS OF CEO2 AND TEO2, COMPACTING THE RESULTINGADMIXTURE UNTO A COHESIVE MASS, AND HEATING SAID MASS AT A TEMPERATUREOF FROM AT LEAST ABOUT 300*C. UP TO THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH SAIDCOMPOUND BEINGS TO DECOMPOSE AT AN UNDESIRABLE RATE.